The Heartbreaking Tales of Pokémon's Darkest Pasts

The Pokémon anime series is widely recognized for its lighthearted and uplifting nature, but amidst all the fun, some of the most compelling and heart-wrenching narratives unfold. While the show inspires both its characters and audience to strive for their aspirations, it often overlooks the challenging origins of many of its protagonists.

Both Pokémon and humans alike have experienced their fair share of tragedy in their pasts. Whether they are still mourning the loss of their loved ones, recovering from a tumultuous relationship, or facing rejection from society, these characters carry a heavy burden of pain on their respective journeys. This serves as a poignant reminder that the Pokémon world is not as idyllic and cheerful as it may initially appear.

10 Jessie And James

Jessie and James have formed a strong bond over time, as evident in Team Rocket's most memorable Pokémon moments. A significant factor contributing to their compatibility is their shared experiences of loneliness and rejection. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, the underlying issues they face are remarkably similar.

Jessie's upbringing was marked by extreme poverty, lacking a father figure from the beginning, and her mother, who was a Team Rocket member, leaving her behind for a mission. On the other hand, James came from a wealthy family but chose to flee from his abusive parents and an undesirable arranged marriage. As the only human companions in each other's lives, it is no surprise that they quickly found solace in their friendship and embraced Meowth, another misunderstood soul.

9 Mewtwo

Mewtwo, the very first cloned Pokémon, had a tumultuous beginning due to its creators' ulterior motives. In "The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin," it is revealed that Mewtwo's struggles commence right from its time in the vat, where it forms connections with other clones in the laboratory, only for all of them to tragically perish. The intense grief experienced by Mewtwo forces the scientists to erase its memory in order to prevent the destruction of the lab.

However, it becomes evident that wiping its memory does not prevent Mewtwo from wreaking havoc. In fact, it ends up taking revenge on its creators, filled with rage at being created solely as an experiment. To exacerbate the situation, Giovanni, initially posing as Mewtwo's friend, deceives it by manipulating Mewtwo into becoming a weapon for his own purposes. Considering the challenging first few weeks of its existence, it is unsurprising that Mewtwo, upon liberating itself from Giovanni's control, immediately dedicates itself to freeing all other Pokémon from human captivity as well.

8 Sabrina

Sabrina is a character in anime who possesses a dark and eerie aura, although she doesn't quite reach the level of the creepiest kids. During her childhood, she struggled to control her psychic powers, which resulted in her inability to form normal connections with others. In moments of frustration, she would unleash her powers, even turning her own mother into a doll. This traumatic experience led to her father abandoning her.

As she enters her teenage years, the impact of her unconventional upbringing becomes apparent. Unlike her portrayal in the video game, she lacks emotional maturity and takes pleasure in teasing and tormenting anyone unfortunate enough to enter her gym. However, it is only when Ash manages to defeat her and release his friends from her grasp that her more innocent and vulnerable side begins to resurface.

7 Larvitar

The Larvitar that came into Ash's care in the Johto region had a tragic backstory, even though it only appeared in a few episodes of the show. When Ash and his friends found the unhatched egg, it had already been through a lot. Its mother was attacked by Pokémon poachers who wanted to steal the egg, and it was eventually taken far away from her. Even after escaping from the poachers, the egg was tossed around and almost broken, but luckily it ended up safely at Professor Elm's lab. As it embarked on a journey to reunite with its mother on Mount Silver, it encountered Team Rocket twice and faced the threat of being kidnapped again. However, this time it had its newfound friends to protect it.

6 Mallow

Mallow's encounter with Ash in the Alola region unveils her role as one of the Ultra Guardians. Despite her cheerful disposition as a Trainer, her personal history resonates with viewers on a more relatable level compared to the fantastical aspects of the Pokémon world. During her childhood, Mallow's mother fell seriously ill, causing her to miss significant milestones in her children's lives. Struggling to cope with the impending loss, Mallow impulsively expressed her hatred towards her mother for constantly apologizing for her illness before running away. Upon her return, she discovered that her mother had passed away. Consumed by guilt over her last words, Mallow actively avoids encountering her mother's spirit in the episode "Memories in the Mist!"

5 Lillie

Lillie, a character deeply enamored with Pokémon, is tragically burdened by a paralyzing fear of physical contact with them. This stands in stark contrast to her game persona, where she keeps her cherished Nebby close by at all times. However, it is in the episode "A Masked Warning!" that viewers finally understand the reasons behind Lillie's fear, as they are introduced to one of Pokémon's darkest moments.

In her early childhood, Lillie fell victim to an attack from the Ultra Beast Nihilego. This Pokémon possesses venom that inflicts immense damage on both the body and mind of its unfortunate prey. Through the character of Lusamine, viewers witness the harrowing transformation that occurs before and after a Nihilego attack. Lusamine, once a vibrant individual, is reduced to a mere shell of her former self. Lillie, already burdened by the loss of both her parents and her brother's abandonment due to his guilt over his inability to help, is left in a state of immense trauma and despair.

It is in this nightmarish state that Lillie finds herself prior to her encounter with Ash, the protagonist of the Pokémon series.

4 Tepig

Ash consistently saves his strongest Fire type Pokémon from abusive situations, and unfortunately, his Pignite is no exception. When it was just a small Tepig, it faced defeat in a battle, and as a consequence, its Trainer Shamus didn't simply abandon it. Instead, he cruelly tied its mouth shut and fastened it to a post before departing, leaving poor Tepig unable to eat even after managing to break free.

Even after bonding with Ash, Tepig continues to bear the emotional scars of Shamus' manipulative treatment. Shamus deceitfully claims to have released it for its own wellbeing, feigning sadness at having to leave it behind. However, it is later revealed that this is a scripted act he performs with all the Pokémon he abandons – an unknown number of them who may not have been fortunate enough to be discovered by compassionate individuals in time. As Tepig evolves into Pignite, fueled by sheer anger, viewers can't help but feel a deep sense of empathy as it burns Shamus' face.

3 Meowth

Meowth's earliest memory is waking up in solitude, devoid of any companionship or familial presence. Unfortunately, the plight of this Scratch Cat Pokémon only worsens from there. In one of the most heart-wrenching anime backstories, it tirelessly seeks acceptance and friendship, only to face adversity at every corner.

Even the origin of Meowth's ability to communicate in human language is steeped in sorrow. It endeavored to impress a well-off Meowth named Meowzie, a Pokémon owned by a human, yet Meowzie found this newfound skill to be unsettling and chose a more powerful, evolved Persian instead. Despite Meowzie's own abandonment by her Trainer, she readily looked down upon Meowth and treated it as inferior.

2 Charmander

Damian's treatment of his Charmander in the episode "Charmander - The Stray Pokémon" was incredibly heartless, as he left the poor Pokémon out in the rain due to its perceived weakness. This act of neglect led to Charmander having to be urgently taken to a Pokémon Center, making its determination to please its Trainer even more poignant.

As Charmeleon and Charizard, it went through a rebellious phase, refusing to partake in battles it deemed beneath it, even if it meant serious consequences for Ash. However, in the episode "Charizard Chills," Ash risks his own life to save a frozen Charizard, which had been weakened by Water and Ice attacks. This selfless act reminds Charizard of the friendship and respect it initially developed for Ash, leading it to once again fight loyally for its true Trainer.

1 Cubone

In Pokémon Origins, a heart-wrenching incident occurs when Team Rocket targets a mother Marowak and her vulnerable Cubone. In a brutal act of cruelty, the poachers use a stun baton on Marowak, ultimately causing her demise. Left without a mother, the orphaned Cubone is taken in by the compassionate Mr. Fuji. However, the traumatic experience leaves the young Pokémon filled with anger and suspicion towards humans, who had forcefully separated it from its beloved mother.

Pokémon is renowned for its ability to inspire and uplift viewers, while also acknowledging the realities of life. It beautifully portrays the idea that in order to attain victory and happiness, one must often endure significant pain and sadness. It is through these poignant and touching moments that Pokémon truly stands out as a cherished and unforgettable series.